Canada’s New Leader Fights ‘Bullies’

Canada’s Liberal Party on Sunday elected former central bank leader Mark Carney to replace former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid US tariffs and annexation threats and an upcoming federal election looming, the Associated Press reported.

With decades of financial experience but limited political expertise and until recently, running behind other candidates in the polls, Canadians hope Carney is the right person to confront US President Donald Trump’s trade war, CBS News reported.

He said this weekend he stands up to bullies, referring to Trump: “Canada never, ever will be part of America in any way,” he said.

Trudeau announced his resignation in January after polls showed his support tanking as living costs rose. He will remain in office until Carney – who won in a landslide with 85.9 percent of the votes – is sworn in in the coming days.

During the Liberal Party leadership campaign, Carney also emphasized the importance of a strong domestic economy to respond to Trump’s threats of tariffs and annexation and called Canada’s current economy “weak” and in need of major reforms to stabilize it.

He also said that if elected, he would impose dollar-to-dollar reciprocal tariffs on US imports and leverage Canada’s importance as a key energy and uranium supplier to the US to strengthen its position.

The retaliatory tariffs Canada placed on the US will remain in place “until the Americans show us respect,” said the newly-elected prime minister. He reassured Canadians that he knows “how to manage crisis” and “build strong economies” and won’t let Trump succeed in his goals.

Among fears of a broader trade war, Trump has postponed 25 percent tariffs on many Canadian and Mexican goods for one month.

Canadians have been booing the American anthem at NHL and NBA games, canceling trips south of the border, and boycotting American goods in a clear display of fury over Trump’s threats.

This surge in Canadian nationalism strengthened the Liberal Party’s chances in the parliamentary election expected to be triggered soon, either by Carney or through a no-confidence vote from the opposition.